Mets To Designate Rick Ankiel For Assignment

The Mets will designate outfielder Rick Ankiel for assignment before the team's Sunday game, David Lennon of Newsday reports (on Twitter). The move will clear roster space for fellow outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who is hitting .232/.339/.486 with ten home runs for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Ankiel, 33, is hitting .194/.254/.387 for the Mets, who have used him sparingly in the past week. New York signed him after the Astros released him last month. Ankiel has hit .241/.302/.423 in 2,111 plate appearances in a strange, winding career with the Cardinals, Royals, Braves and Nationals in addition to the Astros and Mets.